Tigers ensure Asia Cup Super 4

Bangladesh confirmed the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup by bouncing back with a comprehensive 89-run win over Afghanistan in their final group-stage game in Lahore yesterday.

Bangladesh's chances of qualifying looked meek coming into yesterday's contest at the Gaddafi Stadium, having seen their net run-rate take a huge dip following a massive five-wicket defeat to Sri Lanka, with 11 overs to spare, in their first game.

The Tigers turned things around completely on Sunday, boosting their net run-rate to 0.373 by bundling out Afghanistan for just 245 in 44.3 overs after posting a mammoth 334 for five -- thanks to centuries from Mehedi Hasan Miraz and Najmul Hossain Shanto.

As things stand, Bangladesh have now confirmed their Super Four spot. Just a win for Sri Lanka against Afghanistan tomorrow in their final group game will see the co-hosts through along with Bangladesh. 

However, for Afghanistan to have a chance, they would need to win against Sri Lanka by a huge margin and recover from their net run-rate of -1.780 in order to be among the top two in the group alongside the Tigers.

If Afghanistan manage to win by a big margin against Sri Lanka, it will impact the net run-rate of the Lankans and see it take a plunge. Afghanistan might go on to have a better net run-rate than Bangladesh but in no scenario, both Afghanistan and Sri Lanka will be able to have a better net run-rate than Bangladesh, which essentially sees the Tigers through to the next stage of the tournament.   

Yesterday, Bangladesh looked a totally different side than the one that played in Kandy against Sri Lanka in the first game. Needing a win to stay alive in the continental championship, the Tigers came up with a spirited batting display on a batting-friendly surface.

In an attempt to tackle the long-standing opening slot issues, Miraz was promoted up the batting order as he paired with Mohammad Naim. The duo did a commendable job, giving Bangladesh a solid start with a 60-run stand -- the first time in over a year that the Tigers saw a fifty-plus opening stand in ODIs.

Naim was dismissed after a 32-ball 28, but Miraz continued to pick up his second ODI hundred. During a 119-ball 112, laced with seven boundaries and three maximums, Miraz also starred in a 194-run unbroken stand with Shanto for the third wicket before having to retire hurt in the 43rd over due to a cramp. Their partnership is now the best ever for any wicket for Bangladesh in the tournament.

Shanto, meanwhile, continued his purple patch, following up his 89 in the previous game with a 104-run knock off 105 deliveries yesterday. Shanto, who also scored his second ODI ton, dominated a strong Afghan bowling line-up, comprising the likes of Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Fazalhaq Farooqi.

The efforts of Shanto and Miraz were aptly complemented by the bowlers, with pace spearhead Taskin Ahmed claiming a total of four wickets in 8.3 overs while giving away 44 runs.

Young seamer Shoriful Islam gave the Tigers the much-needed breakthroughs, getting rid of the dangerous Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the second over. Shoriful also removed a well-set Afghan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi at 51 off 60 deliveries before claiming the wicket of Gulbadin Naib at the latter stage of the innings.